Ski instruction apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1959 LINK it U rlulllllllvalllllllilINVENTOR. Charles T. Lewis.

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 10, 1961 c. T. LEWIS SKI INSTRUCTION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 20, 1959 INVENTOR. Charles T. Lew/'6.

W a fToPA/ws Patented Get. 10, 1961 United States Patent Oflice3,003,762 SKI INSTRUCTION APPARATUS Charles T. Lewis, P.0. Box 4755,Oklahoma City, Okla. Filed Nov. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 854,311

' 9 Claims. (Cl. 272-32) This invention relates to instructional andamusement devices for use in aquatic sports, and more particularly to anovel apparatus for moving or towing persons in generally circular pathsfor instructions and practice of aquatic sports such as water skiing andthe like.

Heretofore, the usual methods for persons to learn water skiing are forthe pupil to be on water skis and to start behind a fast motor boat withan instructor assisting the pupil with a regular length ski rope tiedbehind the motor boat that is capable of accelerating to a speed thatwill pull the skier to the top of the water to a planing position. Thisnecessitates the instruction being given in relatively large size bodiesof water for maneuverability of the boat, and frequently in areas offast motor boat traific, requiring the beginning pupil to haveadditional strain in watching out for passing tratlic and large waves ofpassing boats, as well as natural roughness of the water, all of whichadds to the perils and difiiculties of the water skier.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a novelapparatus which may be placed in shallow water close to the shore, or insmall bodies of water, and away from fast motor boat traflic forinstruction and practice of water skiing in a manner eliminating thedifliculties above-mentioned; to provide such a structure wherein thereis a central platform whose base rests on the bottom with an uprightcolumn carrying a rotatable arm or boom positioned above the surface ofthe water with a propelling means on one end and a ski or tow ropeextending from the other end remote from the rotatable mounting, saidpropelling means being at a different or lesser distance from therotatable mounting than the extending ski or tow rope to eliminate anydanger of the skier being or falling into the path of the propellingmeans; to provide such a structure witha winch or other control for theextension of the tow rope from the arm with the rope control adjacent toan operator position which is near the propelling means whereby theoperator can control both the rope and propelling means while havingfull view of the skier at all times; to provide such a structure whereinthe arm or boom is extendable in length to increase the diameter of thepath of the skier for greater operational movement as the instructionprogresses; to provide such a structure with a propelling means such asan outboard motor with sufiicient power and acceleration to quickly pullthe skier to planing position; to provide such a structure wherein theski rope and the boom are adjusted to minimum position for initialinstruction of a beginner and later, as the pupil proficiency increases,the boom and ski rope are extended for greater range; to provide such astructure wherein the center column and motor supports are adjustable toprovide necessary height or clearance above the water surface; toprovide such a structure wherein the center platform is a hollow tankwhich, when empty, will provide buoyancy for floating of the apparatusto a desired location and upon operation of a valve controlled inletwater will fill said base causing same to sink to the bottom, the waterload holding the structure in position; and to provide such a water skiinstruction apparatus that is economical to manufacture, eflicient inoperation, that forms a safe means for a beginner to learn, as well asto enable the more advanced water skier to practice and become moreproficient.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent'fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the ski instructionapparatus embodying the features of the present invention in operativeposition.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the instruction apparatus.

FlG. 3 is a vertical sectional view throughthe apparatus on the line 33,FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the boom on the line 44,FIG. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an aquatic sports instructional and amusement deviceparticularly adapted for water skiing and generally consisting of a base2 having an upright column or standard 3 and a rotatable arm or boom 4with a ski or tow rope 5 extending from adjacent one end of the arm orboom and a propelling means, such as an outboard motor 6, carriedadjacent the other end of the boom for effecting rotation thereofwhereby a person on water skis holding to a bar member or handle 7 onthe end of'the tow rope will be drawn through a substantially circularpath.

In the structure illustrated, the base 2 preferably consists of a hollowtank 8 of suitable shape preferably square or rectangular and havingbottom, side and top walls 9, 10 and 11 respectively to define a chamber12 of sufiicient volume whereby when empty the base will form a floatwith sulhcient buoyancy to support the apparatus for towing to a desiredlocation. The bottom wall 9 preferably has depending portions 13 formingfeet adapted to engage the bottom of a lake or other body of water inwhich the apparatus is to be operated. A tubular member 14 having anoutwardly extending plate 15 secured at the bottom thereof is positionedin the tank substantially at the center whereby the bore 16 of saidtubular member registers with an aperture 17 in the top wall 11. Theplate 15 is suitably secured to the bottom wall 9, and the upper end ofthe tubular member 14 is suitably secured to the top wall 11 wherebysaid tubular member is held in upright position, as illustrated inFIG. 1. Gusset plates 18 are secured to the plate 15 and the tubularmember 14 to further brace same and form a rigid structure. The bore 16of the tubular member 14 forms a socket opening from the upper or top ofthe tank to receive a tubular standard or column 3 which extends intosaid socket and is suitably secured therein. Brace members -19 such astubes have ends connected as at 20 to the standard in upwardly spacedrelation to the base 2 with the other ends suitably connected to the topwall 11 as at 21 in spaced relation to the standard forming diagonalbraces to aid in holding the standard and tank and support said standardin upright position relative to the tank.

A valve member 22 is arranged in the tank to control an inlet opening 23in the bottom wall 9 whereby when the valve is opened water can flowinto the bottom aperture 23 to fill the tank causing same to sink. Atubular member, such as a pipe 24-, is connected to the valve member 22and tea flange surrounding an opening in the top wall 11 as at 25whereby the opening in the tubular member 24 registers with an openingor bore in a tubular extension or pipe 26 connected to the flangedportion 25 and extending upwardly therefrom to support a valve actuatingrod 27 that extends through the bores of the pipes 24 and 26 and has avalve operating wheel 28 on the upper end of said rod 27. The upper endof the pipe 26 is supported by a brace 29 extending laterally from thestandard 3, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The tubular member 14 and the lower portion of the standard 3 haveregistering apertures 30 and 31 whereby water in the tank will flowthrough said apertures into the interior of the hollow standard orcolumn 3. An inlet pipe 32 of a pump 33 has communication with thechamber 12 and preferably is arranged in the column 3 withthe lowerportion supported by a member 34, said inlet pipe extending upwardly inthe column 3 to a point above the normal level of water in which theapparatus will be located, and then through the wall of the standard orcolumn 3 to'the pump 33 whereby when the pump is operated and the valve22 is closed, water may be pumped from the tank 8.' In the illustratedstructure, the pump 33 is shown as hand operated. However, the pumpcouldbe driven by a suitable'motor or the like.

Discharge of the pump is through an open pipe 35 positioned above thenormal level of the water in a lake or the like in which the apparatusis to be operated.

The upper end of the standard or column 3 is preferably cylindrical andhas coarse screw threads 37 thereon, and an elongate cylindrical columnhead 38 is adjustably mounted on 't-he column 3, and, in the illustratedstructure, said head has internal threads 39 engaging the threads 37whereby the head may be screwed on the upper end of the column 3 andadjusted vertically thereon to vary the height of the upper portion ofsaid head. A suitable fastening device 40, such as a set screw, extendsthrough the head 38 and is adapted to engage the column to lock the headand column in adjusted position. The upper portion of the column 3 hasbearing members 41 therein aligned with a bearing member 42 r in theupper end of the head for rotatably mounting a shaft 43 of a boom or armcarrier 44. The shaft 43 is preferably longer than the spacing betweenthe bearings 41 and 42 to permit extension and contraction, as desired,of the column and head to adjust the position of the boom above thelevel 45 of the water in the body of water in which the device is to beoperated.

' The boom carrier 44 has a portion above the head 38 on which issecured the boom or arm 4. In the illustrated structure, the carrier hasa horizontal bore 46 extending therethrough and the boom 4 is tubularand extends through said bore 46 and is secured to' the carrier as bywelding. One end portion 47 of the boom 4 is shownas a motor arm portionwith spaced motor supports 48 securedthereto and depending therefrom.The lower ends of the motor supports are suitably secured to I thepropelling means in the form of a conventional outboard motor 6 having apropeller blade 49 adapted to extend into the Waterwhereby operation ofthe motor will drive the blade and move the boom about the axis of U theshaft 43. In the illustrated structure, the motor supports are sectionaland extensible consisting of threaded rods 50 and 51 secured to themotor arm of the boom and to the outboard motor respectively with theadjacent ends of said rods threaded into coupling members 52, v

the rods and coupling members having rightand lefthand threads wherebyturning of the coupling members 52 will cause extension or contractionof the motor support to adjust the distance of the propeller blade 49winch being rotated by a crank 60 above the seat 57 whereby the operatorhas control of the winding in or paying out of the ski rope. The skirope 5 extends from the drum 59 through an aperture 61 in the motor armof the boom and then longitudinally through the bore 62 of said boom.The other end portion 63 of the boom 4 extends radially opposite fromthe motor arm and has a tubular truss structure 64 secured therebelowand extending longitudinally thereof to provide reinforcing and rigidityto said boom portion 63. The truss terminates as at 65 in spacedrelation to the column head 38, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The truss 64,in the illustrated structure, consists of spaced substantially verticalmembers 66, each having their upper ends secured to the lower portion ofthe boom portion 63 and their lower ends secured to a stringer 67 havingone end secured as at 68 adjacent the outer end 69 of the boom portion63 and inclined downwardly therefrom, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Diagonalbraces 70 have their ends secured to the stringer and uprightintersection points and are inclined upwardly with their opposite endssecured to the intersection of the uprights and boom portion 63.

A boom extension 71 is telescoped in the boom portion 63 and is slidablymounted therein whereby the extension may be moved outwardly to providea longer boom arm. The boom extension 71 is tubular having a bore 72therein through which the ski rope 5 extends, said ski rope passingoutwardly from the bore 72. through an aperture 73 adjacent the outerend 74 of the extension with the ski rope terminating in a loop 75 inwhich is slidably mounted a bar rope 76 having ends secured to thehandle or bar 7. The boom extension 71 has a plurality .of apertures 77spaced longitudinally along said extension and adapted to be selectivelyregistered with apertures 78 in the boom portion 63 adjacent the endthereof for. receiving a suitable fastening device such as a pin 79 tosecure the boom extension .in selected adjustable position to providethe desired length of the ski connector arm whereby the aperture 73 andthereby the ski bar 7 are spaced radially from the column 3 a muchgreater distance than the motor 6 as, for example, the motor arm may belZ-feet long and the boom portion 63 30-feet long and the boom extensionsome ZO-feet whereby a skier, even in falling from thenormal path, wouldstill be substantially outwardly from the path of the motor.

In using a structure constructed asdescribed, and assuming the structureis on or adjacent the shore with the valve 22 closed and tank 8 empty, aboat is connected to the apparatus to tow same to a position in a lakeor other body of water on which it is desired to instruct or practicewater skiing and preferably in an area having a substantially flatbottom 80. The hand wheel 28 is then turned to open the valve 22 wherebywater will enter below the motor arm of the boom. Brackets 53 aremounted on the motor 6 and extend therefrom toward the column 3 with theinner end of said brackets having a sleeve 54 slidably mounted on a rod55 having its upper end secured to the motor arm of the boom whereby therod depends therefrom in parallel relation to the motor supports 48. Asuitable fastening device 56 is arranged in the sleeve and adapted toengage therod to secure the sleeve in adjusted position on the rod. 7 vAn operators seat 57 is fixed on the brackets 53 to position theoperator whereby a speed control lever 58 of the motor is easilyaccessible. The operators chair faces in the opposite direction to thepropeller blade 49 whereby the operator is facing forwardly relative tothe direction of travel of the motor arm and thereby facing toward askier as is later described.

A winch drum 59 is rotatably mounted ;on the motor arm or supports 48 tocarry a supply of skirope 5, said the tank 8 filling same causing saidtank to sink to the bottom 80, the water being at a suitable depth toaccommodate the apparatus. If the person going to ski is a beginner, theboom extension 71 is retracted to position the aperture 73 adjacent tothe end 69 of the boom portion 63, and the pin 79 inserted throughregistering apertures 77 and 78 to hold samein position. The winch 59 isthen actuated to wind the rope wherein the bar 7 may be grasped and beof suitable height for the skier. The operator and instructor then takesthe position in the seat 57, starts the motor 6, and then, with theskier grasping the bar 7, the motor is accelerated to rotate the boom ata speed that will pull the skier to the top of the water into planingposition, and the rnotor may be slowed or speeded up and the winch 59actuated to'extend the ski rope as desired in the instruction of thepupil, and periodically, as the student progresses, the apparatus may bestopped, the pin 79 removed and the boom extension moved outwardly toincrease the radius and the operational range of a student, and whenfully extended, even professional skiers may practice jumps with theskirope spasms in maximum position and the jump placed near the outerperimeter of the action. When the instructions are finished, if desired,the apparatus may be raised and towed to shore by closing the valve 28and operating the pump 33 to pump the water from the tank 8 whereby thebuoyance of the air chamber 12 will cause the apparatus to float so itcan be towed to the shore.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a headon said standard and adjustable on the upper portion thereof to changethe height of the head, a boom extending horizontally adjacent saidhead, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation abouta vertical axis at said head, means for supporting said standard in abody of water whereby said boom is spaced above the surface of the waterand adjustment of the head on the standard raises and lowers said boomrelative to said water surface, said boom having tubular arms extendingradially opposite from the head with one of said arms being longer thanthe other, a motor member having a propeller, means supporting saidmotor means on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relationthereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation ofthe motor effects rotation of the boom, a winch supported on the shorterof the boom arms, a tow rope on said winch and extending therefromthrough the tubular boom toward the end of the other arm, and a boomextension telescoped in said longer boom arm and adjustable relativethereto for lengthening the boom on the side opposite the motor, saidboom extension being tubular and the tow rope extending through saidtubular extension and laterally outwardly thereof adjacent the end ofsaid boom extension, said tow rope having an end on the portionextending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person tobe towed thereby whereby operation of the winch will effect drawing inand paying out of said rope to change the extending length thereof andthe operational range of the person grasping same.

2. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a headon said standard and adjustable on the upper portion thereof to changethe height of the head, a boom extending horizontally adjacent saidhead, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation abouta vertical axis at said head, means for supporting said standard in a'body of water whereby said boom is spaced above the surface of thewater and adjustment of the head on the standard raises and lowers saidboom relative to said water surface, said boom being tubular and havingtubular arms extending radially opposite from the head with one of saidarms being longer than the other, a motor member having a propeller,means adjustably supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boomarms in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends intothe water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, anoperators seat supported adjacent the motor and movable therewith withthe operator facing in the direction of movement of the motor, a winchsupported on the shorter of the boom arms, a tow rope on said winch andextending therefrom through the tubular boom toward the end of the otherarm, and a boom extension telescoped in said longer boom arm andadjustable relative thereto for lengthening the boom on the sideopposite the motor, said boom extension being tubular and the tow ropeextending through said tubular extension and laterally outwardly thereofadjacent the end of said boom extension, said tow rope having an end onthe port-ion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped bya person to be towed thereby whereby operation of t3 the winch willeffect drawing in and paying out of said rope to change the extendinglength thereof and the operational range of the person grasping same.

3. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a headon said standard, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head,means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation about avertical axis at said head, a base having a hollow chamber thereinproviding buoyancy for floating of the base and standard and boom andadapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottomthereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting theupright standard on said base with the head on the standard above thesurface of the water, a valve controlled inlet communicating with saidbase chamber whereby opening thereof permits water to enter said chamberto cause said base to submerge, means connected to the base chamber andoperable to draw water from the base chamber to make same buoyant, saidboom having tubular arms, extending radially opposite from the head withone of said arms being longer than the other, a motor member having apropeller, means supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boomarms in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends intothe water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, and atow rope extending through the tubular boom toward the end of the longeram, said tow rope extending laterally outwardly of the longer of theboom arms adjacent the end thereof, said tow rope having an end on theportion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by aperson to be towed.

4. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a headon said standard, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head,means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation about avertical axis at said head, a base having a hollow chamber thereinproviding buoyancy for floating of the base and standard and boom andadapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottomthereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting theupright standard on said base with the head on the standard above thesurface of the water, means operable to permit water to enter saidchamber to cause said base to submerge, means communicating with thebase chamber and operable to draw water from the'base chamber to makesame buoyant, said boom having tubular arms extending radially oppositefrom the head with one of said arms being longer than the other, a motormember having a propeller, means supporting said motor means on theshorter of the boom arms in depending relation thereto whereby thepropeller extends into the water and operation of the motor effectsrotation of the boom, an operators seat supported adjacent the motor andmovable therewith with the operator facing in the direction of movementof the motor, a tow rope extending through the tubular boom toward theend of the longer arm, a boom extension telescoped in said longer boomarm and adjustable relative thereto for lengthening the boom on the sideopposite the motor, said boom extension being tubular and the tow ropeextending through said tubular extension and laterally outwardly thereofadjacent the end of said boom extension, said tow'rope having an end onthe portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by aperson to be towed thereby, and means operable to efiect drawing in andpaying out of said rope to change the extending length thereof and theoperational range of the person grasping same.

5. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a headon said standard and adjustable on the upperportion thereof to changethe height of the head, a tubular boom extending horizontally adjacent.said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotationabout a vertical axis at said head, a base having a hollow chambertherein providing buoyancy for floating of the base andstandard and boomand adapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottomthereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting theupright standard on said base with the head on the standard above thesurface of the water, a valve controlled inlet communicating with saidbase chamber whereby opening thereof permits water to enter said chamberto cause said base to submerge, a pump on said standard above the waterlevel, an inlet duct extending from said pump through said standard intothe basechamber whereby operation of the pump will draw water from thebase chamber to, make same buoyant, said boom being tubular and havingtubular arms extending radially opposite from the head with one of saidarms beinglonger than the other, a motor member having a propeller,means adjustably supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boomanns in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends intothe water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, anoperators seat supported adjacent the motor and movable therewith withthe operator facing in the direction of movement of the motor, awinchsupported on the shorter of the boom arms, a tow rope on said winch andextending therefrom through the tubular boom toward the end of the otherarm, and a boom extension telescoped in said longer boom arm andadjustable relative thereto for lengthening the boom on the sideopposite the motor, said boom extension being tubular and the tow ropeextending-through said tubular extension and laterally outwardly thereofadjacent the end of said boom extension, said tow rope having an end onthe portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by aperson to be towed thereby whereby operation of the winch will effectdrawing in and paying out of said rope to change the extending lengththereof and the oper ational range of the person grasping same.

6. Au aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, 'ahead on said standard, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head,means rotatably mounting said boom on said head, for rotation about avertical axis at said'head, a base having a hollow chamber thereinproviding buoyancy for floating of the base and standard and boom andadapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottomthereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting theupright standard on said base with the head on the standard above thesurface of the water, a valve controlled inlet communicating with saidbase chamber whereby opening thereof permits water to enter said chamberto cause said base to submerge, means connected to the base chamber andoperable to draw water from the base chamber to make same buoyant, saidboom having arms extending radially opposite from the head with one ofsaid arms being longer than the other, propelling means supported on theshorter of the boom arms and operative to effect rotation of the boom,and a tow rope extending along the boom toward the end of the longerarm, said tow rope extending laterally outwardly of the longer of theboom arms adjacent the end thereof, said towrope having an end on theportion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by aperson to be towed.

7. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a headon said standard, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head,means rotatably mounting said boom on' said head for rotation about avertical axis at said head, a base having a hollow chamber thereinproviding buoyancy for floating of the base and standard and boom andadapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottomthereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting theupright standard on said base with the head on the standard above thesurface of the water, means connected with said base chamber andoperable for introduction of water into said chamber to cause said baseto submerge, means connected to the base chamber and operable, to

draw water from the base chamber to make same buoyant; said boom havingarms extending radially opposite from the head with one of said armsbeing longer than the other, a motor member having a propellen'meanssupporting said motor means on the shorter of the boom arms in dependingrelation thereto whereby the propeller extends into the water andoperation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, and a tow ropeextending along the boom toward'the end of the longer arm, said tow ropeextending laterally outwardly of the longer of the boom arms adjacentthe end thereof, said tow rope having an end on the portion extendingfrom the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed.

8. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a headon said standard and adjustable onthe upper portion thereof to changethe height of the head, a boom extending horizontally adjacent saidhead, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation abouta vertical axis at said head, means for supporting said standard in abody of water whereby said boom is spaced above the surface of the waterand adjustment of the head on the standard raises and lowers said boomrelative to said water surface, said boom having arms extending radiallyopposite from the, head with one of said arms being longer than theother, a motor member having a propeller, means supporting said motormeans on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relation theretowhereby the propeller extends into the water and operation of the motoreffects rotation of the boom, a tow rope extending laterally outwardlyfrom adjacent the end of said longer boom arm, said tow rope having anend on the portion extending from the boom extension adapted to begrasped by a person to be towed thereby, and means on said boom andoperatively connected to the tow rope to effect drawing in and payingout of said rope to change the extending length thereof and theoperational range of the person grasping same.

9. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a headon said standard and adjustable on the upper portion thereof totchangethe height of the head, a boom extending horizontally adjacent saidhead, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation abouta vertical axis at said head, means for supporting said standard in abody of water whereby said boom is spaced above the surface of the'water and adjustment of the head on the standard raises and lowers saidboom relative to said water surface, said boom having arms extendingradially opposite from the head with one of said arms being longer thanthe other, a motor member having a propeller, means supporting saidmotor means on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relationthereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation ofthe motor effects rotationtof the boom, a winch supported on the shorterof the boom arms, a tow rope on said winch and extending there fromalong the boom toward the end of the other arm, and a boom extensionsupported by said longer boom arm and adjustable relative thereto forlengthening the boom on the side opposite the motor, the tow ropeextending along said extension and laterally outwardly thereof adjacentthe end of said boom extension, said tow rope having an end on theportion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by aperson to be towed thereby whereby operation of the'winch will eflectdrawing'in and paying out of said rope to change the extending lengththereofand the operational range of the person grasping same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

